RJ Barrett and the New York Knicks faced off against Zion Williamson and the New Orleans Pelicans in a record-breaking summer league game on Friday.
What happened?
The game was called off in the fourth quarter due to an earthquake that hit Nevada and southern California, causing the Thomas & Mack Center to be evacuated.
RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson, former Duke teammates, drew a large audience, with the game achieving a 1.2 metered market rating on ESPN.
Why it matters for RJ Barrett
This rating is a 33% increase from the previous summer league record set in 2017, when Lonzo Ball made his Los Angeles Lakers debut against the Boston Celtics.
The game's popularity can be attributed to the highly anticipated matchup between RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson, two of the NBA's most exciting young players.
What comes next?
The summer league will continue, with the Knicks and Pelicans scheduled to play again soon, although the exact date and time have not been announced.
RJ Barrett and the Knicks will look to build on their strong performance, despite the game being cut short due to the earthquake.
The record-breaking rating is a testament to the growing interest in the NBA's summer league, with fans eager to see the league's top young players in action.
And the Knicks and Pelicans are sure to be two of the most watched teams, given the talent on their rosters.
So the stage is set for an exciting rest of the summer league, with RJ Barrett and the Knicks looking to make a deep run, and the Pelicans and Zion Williamson looking to do the same.
The earthquake that caused the game to be called off was a significant one, with a large impact on the area, and the players and staff were fortunate to have escaped without injury.
The Thomas & Mack Center was evacuated quickly and efficiently, with the safety of the players and fans the top priority.
But the game will be remembered for its excitement and energy, despite being cut short.
RJ Barrett and the Knicks will look to recapture that energy in their next game, and the summer league will continue to be a thrilling and unpredictable ride.
The record-breaking rating is a significant achievement, and one that will be remembered for a long time.
The game was played on Friday, and the rating was announced shortly after, with ESPN revealing that the game had achieved a 1.2 metered market rating.
And the reaction from fans and players alike has been overwhelmingly positive, with many taking to social media to express their excitement and disappointment that the game was cut short.
The summer league will continue to be a major focus for NBA fans, with RJ Barrett and the Knicks sure to be one of the most watched teams, and the record-breaking rating is a significant indicator of the league's growing popularity.
The Knicks and Pelicans will look to build on their strong performances, and the summer league will be an exciting and unpredictable ride, with RJ Barrett and Zion Williamson at the forefront.
The game may have been cut short, but the excitement and energy of the summer league will continue to grow, with RJ Barrett and the Knicks looking to make a deep run, and the record-breaking rating a significant achievement, on Friday.